After a long season, the NIU Women’s Rugby Club defended its title as the Chicago-area Conference champs Saturday.

Last year, the team went undefeated. This year, the team only lost once and that was when it had a shortage of players during the game.

As a club sport, the team does not hold tryouts. The season starts at the beginning of the school year and lasts until Halloween. The sport then picks up again in February and lasts until the end of the school year.

Some members of the club have found rugby has greatly influenced their lives.

Christine O’Connell, a senior history major and member of the team, said she tried joining a sorority, but felt more at home with the Rugby Club.

Members of the club also can meet students from other schools and make new friends through games.

It is a national tradition to meet the opposing team and make them dinner after games, said Kacey O’Brien, a senior physical therapy major and president of the club. During the dinner, members of the teams often compliment each other on plays made during the game.

“What happens on the field, stays on the field,” O’Brien said.

Through meeting other players, team members can make new friends from other schools who help with networking, contacts, studying for classes and getting or staying in shape, she said.

Other activities the club participates in are the “Rugby Prom,” where they combine with the NIU Men’s Rugby Club, and a rugby banquet. The club also gets involved with an annual fundraiser.

“We have a Great America trip,” said Erin Gaughan, a physical therapy graduate student and vice president of the club. The girls work at Six Flags Great America for one day and the park pays the group $1,000. Ten girls participate in this fundraiser.

Practice is held three times a week and games are held Saturdays. The team’s composition fluctuates a lot, but generally includes 25 to 30 girls.

“You come out. We teach you how to play. You play,” O’Brien said.

A variety of girls are on the team.

“We have 100-pound girls who play rugby and they are starters,” Gaughan said.

The team plays teams within the northern part of Illinois and Chicago, as well as all over the Midwest during spring.

Gaughan said she thinks rugby gives females a chance to do something not every girl does.

“It lets girls step outside the box of what is thought of as women’s sports,” she said.

O’Brien, Gaughan and O’Connell all agreed many schools they play have a bit more backing and recognition than they normally receive as a club sport.

“A lot of [other schools’] club sports get a lot more attention than just varsity sports,” said Gaughan, who would like to see more attention drawn to the 12 club sports and four martial arts clubs at NIU.

The adrenaline rush, being able to play hard and facing both physical and mental challenges are all aspects of rugby that O’Connell said she loves.

“Rugby is a sport that not every girl plays,” O’Connell said. “Some people play it and stick with it.”